With the Import Layer from CAD tool, you can bring individual layers from a CAD drawing into a SketchUp design.

Exporting a Layer from a CAD Drawing

Before importing a layer from a CAD drawing into a SketchUp model, you must export the layer from CAD to SketchUp.

Open the CAD drawing from which you would like to export one or more layers into SketchUp.

We'll export layers from the CAD drawing pictured above into SketchUp. Once we've exported the layers, we can then import them into our SketchUp model.

Access the SketchUp Connection tool using one of the following methods:

F/X Planting ribbon, SketchUp flyout

F/X Planting menu, SketchUp Connection option

Plant Render toolbar

typing SketchUpExport in the Command line

Planting toolbar

The SketchUp Connection dialog box will open.

Click Send Layer to export your planting plan into SketchUp.

A pickbox will appear in place of the cursor. Click an object in your CAD drawing that is on the layer you would like to export to SketchUp. In our example, we'll be exporting the layer LP-SHAR-BRDR to SketchUp.

You'll receive a message that the layer has been exported. Click OK.

Your layer has been exported into SketchUp, and you're now ready to import it into your SketchUp model.

Note: You can continue to select additional layers to export from CAD. Simply press the SPACE bar to reopen the SketchUp Connection dialog box, click the Send Layer button, and select an additional layer.

Note that when you import a layer into SketchUp, the Land F/X SketchUp Connection will first delete all objects from that layer. This way, you won't have to search through your layers to see which ones you've already imported.

Importing Layers Into a SketchUp Model

Open a new or existing SketchUp model. Then access the Land F/X Projects tool from one of the following locations:

LandFX toolbar, Place Site Amenity button

Land-FX menu, Projects option

The Land F/X Projects dialog box will open.

Here, you'll see a list of all Land F/X projects you've created in SketchUp, or imported from CAD into SketchUp.

This list should also include the name of the project you've just exported from CAD. Click the name of the project.

Note: Make sure you are selecting the correct project number. In our example, the dialog box contains two projects named Tutorial 1 Metric. The project we imported from CAD is the one with the number 9010-M.

Your project will open in SketchUp, and the Land F/X Projects dialog box will close. Access the Import Layer from CAD tool from one of the following locations:

LandFX toolbar, Import Layer button

Land-FX menu, Import Layer option

The Land F/X Import Layer dialog box will open.

Here, you'll see a list of all layers you've exported from your CAD design into SketchUp.

Click a layer to select it and import it into your SketchUp model. The dialog box will close, and your layer will be imported into your SketchUp model.

Be patient as the layer is imported; some layers take longer than others to import.

To import additional layers, select the Import Layer tool again, then click the layer in the Land F/X Import Layer dialog box to import it.

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